John J. (Jay) Conner, Ph.D.

Jay has worked for 40 years in communications, human resources, organizational development, and lean healthcare. He earned his degrees from Louisiana State University and his higher education career included faculty appointments at Carson Newman University, North Carolina State University and Middle Tennessee State University.  He transitioned to the private sector as a corporate executive for Ryder Truck Rental, The Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, and Crackerbarrel Old Country Stores.  For the past 21 years, he has served multiple organizations as a leadership and organizational development consultant. He is strongly committed to helping people develop and realize their potential through individual and group development opportunities.

He has also been a partner with the management consulting group Conner, Gering & Associates and a Business Development Partner with Athena Learning. Jay has industry experience healthcare, software development, wholesale building supplies, food service, retail food distribution, transportation and logistics. He has consulted in Lean process improvement, training and development, executive and managerial coaching, recruiting and hiring, employee relations, performance management, compensation, and employment law compliance.

Jay has been a member of the Board of Trustees at Campbellsville University and served as Board Chair from 2009-2012.  He is active at Brentwood Baptist Church and serves on the Worship Choir Leadership Team. He recently became part of the leadership team for Care Kitchen Outreach, a food rescue and food distribution non-profit in Williamson County.

He has been married for almost 50 years.  Jay and Alice have two grown children, Dan, who lives in Franklin and Allyson, who lives in Washington, D.C.